New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-05-30
A CHAT WIN GENERAL BUTLER.
ERRATIC STATEMENTS ON JACOB SHARP.
An ACT OF CONGRESS IN LINE WITH HENRY
GEORGES THEoRfEs

AN ACT OF CONGRESS IN LINE WITH HENRY
GEORGES THEORIES
TRIBUNE reporter who was usherei into Gem
eral b. II Buffers welllghted parlor at the Fifth
Avenue Hotel the other night found him reclining In
large easy chair which was completely filed by ais
bulky form. He has lost some flesh since he fell
the Ice and &slocated his last winter There
spray of apple blossoms In the lapel of his
carefully brushed broadcloth coat His BID bald head
shining with the rubbing It had received from
tho brushes In the hands of his valet The General
remarked, he laid down the PAPER that he had
been interested In veto message OF Governor Amcs,
of Massachusetts,. He In the city to make an
argument In the Hoyt will case and the conversation
Immediately drifted to that subject The General
was asked about decision in the Court Of Appeals.
which was said TO have bearing on the case, and
no replied in substance:
"In the hearing Of the HOyt before the
Surrogate the lawyers and physicians OF Jesse Hoyt
and Miss Hoyt were permitted to testify what
Jesse Hoyt and Miss Hoyt said to them In their
professional capacity lawyers and physicians. IL
is a weIl1lnown rule Of law that such testimony IL
not admissible. Most of this testimony was given
before / engaged counsel. When came into
the objected to It. The law says II shall not
DO admitted, unless there is waiver from the person
or persons talking TO their lawyers or physicians
Jesse Hoys had boon dead years and could give
no waiver. The Surrogate held that the law did not
apply to tesamentary cases and admitted the testi-
mony. An appeal was taken to the General Term.
Pending that appeal the Court Of Appeals has Just
decided In an exactly similar case that the law does
apply to testamentary cases. would like to try tho
Hoyt before jury. There are not twelve men
in NewYork who would not give US quick verdict"
"Are you going yachting this summer General"
"Ah surely. Life would be burdensome without
yachting"
81 hear your name mentioned often In political
discussions"
Tho General threw back his big head and answered
with a quiet laugh that seemed to shake his whole
frame: II am quite out Of politics" Then
he added moro sobeny: 81 accomplished In 1884
what 1 undertook to do. I worked up the working
men Of this country a realization OF the power Of
Organized labor. That all / tried to do, and
succeeding events have shown that my attempt was
o successful one"
"Do you look on the vote for Henry George In
New-York as OF the results Of your canvass F"
"The vote for George is only beginning. 1t Is
merely sign Of what will day be accomplished
1t is an indication Of what is going on over the en-
tire country and Will continue TO go on BY the way
the land theories advocated by Henry George, which
are held to be outrageous, are not materially
different from theories that were enacted INTO law
by tho last Congress-"
"To what law do you referp
"Henry George says, does he not, that he wants
all land titles to be held and controlled by the Cow
ernmentl Now / will show you something which
was enacted into law by Congress which Is exactly
In line with the Henry George theory" Taking up
bundle of papers, General selected large type
written manuscript and read portions vi IAN act
entitled an act to restrict the ownership OF land 10
tho Territories Of the United States to American cit
lzens" etc. passed March 3, 1857. 1t Is the act by
which aliens are prevented from acquiring Or holding
real estate above a certain number Of acres In any
Territory Of the United states OF In the District OIL
Columbia. When the General had read rev eA-
tracts from it he said: "Do you catch the driit Oh
thatl 1t is plain enough that you pesln Dy pass
ing laws that allen shall not hold lana IN any
number Of acres you are going iOeS way Stre %i "
Henry George ms b aae enteSnS wedee Under this
law o foreign citizen may not lease mouse III ING
District Of Cou IN aa ~ ann IN a commeree he is ead
to all the rights of citizenship In this country e
may not lease warehouse or store because mo
lease is an interest real estate which he Is for
bldlen to acquire II is Ia short, aST. anu ar p
theory II this law is constitutional 1t establishes tho
constitutOnalty Of Henry Georges plan There arc
objections but the relation of it to Henry Georges
land movement was all cared 70 Dnng 70 your az
tenton Have they got jury yet In JACOB sharps
The direction OF the Generals inquiry seemed to
indicate that he would like to talk about the New
York booders, and the reporter promptly gave III"
II Mas thinking just before you came" said the
General, about phase Of public criticism On JaeSo
entire press OF this city praised him as great public
benefactOr. They showered unlimited praise upon
the DubIio a great service. There was not news
paper in New-York at that time which did not know
nav the Board Of Aldermen 70 that franchise
There was not paper that did not know that the
been impossible 20 have secured the laying Of MAJ
railroad upon Broadway, with all these consequen
public advantages, without securing through question:
able means the votes Of these corrupt men: Yet
knowing all these things the newspapers at that tie
praised Jacob sharp immediately. Now they turn
around to assail him and press him 70 the wall as
the city being robbed Of great franchises without
sufficient return. A city has no right to an, any
return should tTOm be Returned to the public
i'm the shape OF lower rates of transportation IL
the poor shop girl or clerk pays i've cents for .
city il means that the tolllng millions are con-
ributlng so much to the hssenng of taxes that are
evaded and shirked by the wealthy men who
IN rph H,er Gorgeous carriages Franchises u hi.
kind should those who VIII operate the foah AT
the lowest rate of fare to the public wc are to be ac
waited roads, because they have franchise OF ar
They take away somewhat nom the property hold.
ers In the matter of light and air But the elevated
three cents per passenger and yield suficient re-
turn on their investment. l am reminded that
former Governor OF New-York vetoed bill for tho
reduction of the fares the elevated roads from ten
IN five cents ON the ground that it would be burien-
some TO the companies as well "a unconstitutional
he bnrdensome by making the reduction voluntarily
within few months after the veto was signei
Tho extra amount that IN oPF sq to enable Say
ments to made into the city treasury for the fran
chises is like toll. Suppose tho city a9
thorities should erect huge tollgate on Broad,
no person should through except upon payment %
two cents How long do you suppose such gate wouo
assemble and up the paving stones with which TO
The General remarked moment later that he knew
nothing OF the merits and dement's OF the sharp case OF
any of the Doodle cases. but was SIMPLY talking upon
general principles.